UTC Mocs logoThe University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball team improved to 16-8 on the season by outlasting Furman 74-71 in overtime, at Timmons Arena in Greenville, S.C.
The Mocs led by four after a 3-pointer by Ronrico White - which gave him over 1,000 points for his UTC career - with 3:07 remaining in regulation, but the Paladins scored the next six points to take a 65-63 lead. Casey Jones had a basket with 37.2 seconds remaining to tie the game up, and Furman's Stephen Croone missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have won it.
The Mocs never trailed in overtime, scoring the first four points. Furman (7-15, 4-7) rallied to tie the game at 69, but Jones had a layup to give the Mocs the lead back, which was followed two possessions later when Tre' McLean broke the Furman press and found a wide-open Justin Tuoyo for a dunk.
Furman's Daniel Fowler scored on a layup, then the Paladins fouled White, who split a pair at the line. Croone and Beans then missed potential game-tying 3-pointers at the buzzer.
Tuoyo finished with a career-high 20 points - 18 of which came after halftime. He added seven rebounds and two blocks. Jones finished with 14 points and nine rebounds, while White had 12 points and four assists and Eric Robertson added 11 on 3-for-7 3-point shooting.
Croone had 31 points to lead the Paladins, while Fowler added 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
The Mocs travel to Western Carolina for a game Saturday with a 4:30 tipoff. The Catamounts dropped a 76-72 decision at home to Samford, who has now won four straight.
For full story, read Friday's Times Free Press.